Velocity dispersions in galaxies. II. The ellipticals NGC 1889, 3115, 4473, and 4494.

Coude' spectra with 0.9 A resolution between 4185 and 4415 A were obtained from the galaxies NGC 1889 (E0), 3115 (E7/S0), 4473 (ES), and 4494 (El) with an integrating television sensor. Comparison with spectra of G5 III, G8 III, and KO III stars broadened by various Gaussian velocity profiles showed that these galaxies have velocity dispersions in their nuclei of a = 110 + 20, 215 + 20 160 + 30, and 160 + 20, respectively. These results, together with those obtained by Minkowski and others indicate a continuous distribution of dispersions from 60 km 1 for M32 to 490 km 1 for M87. The wavelength shifts required to superpose the galaxies on the broadened star spectra also gave new determinations of the galaxy radial velocities. Rotation curves were derived for the inner parts of NGC 3115 and 4473. A simple application of the virial theorem gavemassesof5 x 1010,1.6 x 1011,1.5 x 1011,andl.2 x l011M0andratiosofmasstophoto- graphic light of 22, 38, 6, and 9, respectively, for a Hubble constant of 100 km 1 Mpc 1 Subject headings: galaxies, motions in - stellar dynamics